The Publican is on board!

Publican Dining Room

We couldn’t be more excited about the fact that Paul Kahan, the super chef behind Chicago’s Blackbird, Avec and Publican has agreed to host the VIP Pro Bacon Cookoff at The Publican on October 24 from Noon – Three. The Publican is the leader of the new wave of pork-focused gastro-pub / fine dining destinations to crop up in the last year and Kahan is one of Baconfest’s personal heros.

We’ll be coming out with more detail soon, but in the meantime, take it from us, the VIP Pro Cookoff is going to be a blast, with up to a dozen of Chicago’s brightest chefs competing for the attention of our panel of bacon judges and the glory of a Golden Rasher for the best use of bacon by a professional.

Paul Kahan

Thanks to Paul Kahan for agreeing to host and to Ellen Malloy, the fierce genius behind the Restaurant Intelligence Agency for her role in brokering this partnership!

Baconfest Chicago is a nationally renowned, locally beloved festival dedicated to America’s favorite cured meat: bacon! At Baconfest, Chicago’s best chefs concoct and serve brilliant bacon dishes to thousands of passionate bacon lovers. Liquor sponsors provide cocktails, beer and wine designed to complement a bacon meal. Bacontrepreneurs and bacon-friendly brands exhibit their wares and connect with our bacon community. A panel of judges bestows the Golden Rasher awards on chefs and guests for achievement in the bacon arts. It is a raucous, rockin’ good time for everybody involved.